10 Animals You Didn't Know Existed

Posted by Steven Shehori on July 29, 2014, Updated on December 28, 2016

Sure, we're all pretty familiar with household pets, not to mention those adorable farm and zoo dwellers. But there's a whole world of amazingly exotic animals out there -- ones most folks have never heard of. Here are ten...

A Mckeone Carolyn via Getty Images

1 of 10

Angora Rabbit

A type of rabbit that's bred for its wool. And yes, there's a bit of a cotton ball vibe going on here.

Mark Kostich via Getty Images

2 of 10

Matamata Turtle

We tend to gauge my turtles by how easily they can pass for Super Mario villains. As such, this little guy gets a 10 out of 10. Protective spikes, camouflage colouring, and a face only a mother could love.

Mint Images via Getty Images

3 of 10

Kakapo

Indigenous to New Zealand, the kakapo is a parrot, and a quirky one at that. It sleeps by day, preys by night, and -- wait for it -- barks like a dog.

Getty Images

4 of 10

Barreleye

The barreleye looks like a gorgeous 3D rendering of a Finding Nemo fish. Mind you, those aren't ornate markings on its noggin: this fishy has a see-through skull. Why? because nature is crazy.

Nicholas Smythe via Getty Images

5 of 10

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Sure, he's got a not-so-menacing name. And yes, he looks pretty darn adorable to boot. But his torpedo shape -- plus that shielded head and back -- makes him look like a tiny Centurion soldier. Specifically a solider that battles ants and larvae. And by 'battles' we mean 'eats.'

Getty Images

6 of 10

Snub-Nose Monkey

What these little guys lack in facial features they more than make up for in size. Family size that is: snub-nose monkeys -- found primarily in Asia -- live in groups of up to six hundred.

Ben Cranke via Getty Images

7 of 10

Maned Wolf

How's that for legs? In fact, the South American maned wolf is pretty much the tallest species of wolf you're ever going to come across. Not that it's likely you'll ever come across one, given they're pretty darn rare. But you get our point.

Diane Schuler via Getty Images

8 of 10

Tufted Deer

The tufted deer is a shy little creature from central China. He likes to remain camouflaged, and is rarely seen with more than one of his own kind. And you've got to admit those vampire teeth are kinda cool, no? Somebody get this guy a True Blood cameo.

Getty Images

9 of 10

Raccoon Dog

These East Asian cuties aren't really raccoons -- or dogs for that matter. They climb trees, eat birds, fish, and insects, and are known to hibernate during severe snowstorms.

Getty Images

10 of 10

Olm

Easily the craziest creature of them all. Here's the tale of the tape: the olm is blind (but has fantastic hearing and smell), can go a decade without food (!), and can live to be one hundred years old (!!). Those last two features kinda make it sound like the perfect pet.